in Extra-Tro2)ical Countries. 303 



small tree. Foliage deciduous; the leaves distilled for medicinal 

 purposes, the bark also utilized therapeutically. 



Prunus Persica, J. Hooker. (Amygdalus Persica, Linn.) 



China, not really indigenous to Persia, as ascertained by Alph. de 

 Candolle. The Peach-tree, as delightful through its early flowering as 

 through the ready yield of its luscious fruit. Not quite so hardy as the 

 Almond-tree in cooler climes, its near ally, though enduring the clime 

 of England. In the southern of the United States peaches are not 

 rarely turned to account for alcoholic fermentation and distillation 

 (Rhind). The Nectarine, which is characterized by smooth fruits, is 

 a variety merely. The bark used as an anthelmintic. The necessity 

 of reducing the genus Amygdalus to that of Prunus was indicated in 

 1812 already by Stokea (Bot. Mat. Med. in. 101) and in 1813 by 

 F. G-. Hayne (Arznei-Gewaechse iv. 38). 



Prunus Pseudo-Cerasus, Lindley. (P. Puddum, Roxburgh.) 



The "Sakura"of Japan, extending to Upper India. A large 

 shady tree, the stem attaining two feet in diameter, charming to 

 view when bearing its profusion of flowers. The fruit is of the 

 size of small cherries and of pleasant and refreshing taste, though 

 never quite sweet (Wallich). This is this tree, which supplies 

 mainly the wood so extensively required for xylography in Japan 

 (Dupont). 



Prunus serotina, Ehrhart. 



The Black Cherry-tree of Eastern North-America. Fruit slightly 

 bitter, but with a pleasant vinous flavor; wood compact, light, easily 

 worked, not liable to warp (Sargent), very valuable for cabinet- and 

 sash-makers (A. Gray). In Virginia and Alabama the tree attains a 

 height of about 100 feet, with a stem 4 feet in diameter ; it prefers 

 rich porous soil in the upper parts of valleys. Wood pale-red, dense, 

 fine-grained; when polished as beautiful as mahogany-wood (Robb 

 and Simmonds). Will live on the poorest soil, and even within the 

 salt-spray of the coast. Readily raised from seeds and transplanted ; 

 not succumbing under rough usage (Sargent). 



Prunus spinosa, Linn<*. 



The Sloe or Blackthorn. Wild in many parts of Europe. Indi- 

 genous in Norway to lat. 60 8'; but it will endure the winter even 

 to lat 67 56' (Schuebeler). Hardly at all liable to be attacked by 

 insects. With its flowers 'it is one of the earliest plants to announce 

 the spring. Its tendency, to throw out suckers, renders the bush less 

 adapted for hedges of gardens than of fields, but these suckers fur- 

 nish material for walking-sticks. The small globular fruits can be 

 made into preserves. Perhaps the fruit of some of the species from 

 Eastern Asia, California and tropical America may be improved by 

 horticultural skill. The sloe and others might with advantage be 

 naturalized on forest-streams. 



